AMHERST, Masaschusetts -- Irene Permut (Wilmington, DE), a junior tri-captain of the Amherst College field hockey team, earned First Team All-America honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association for her outstanding play in the midfield. This is the second year Permut attains All-America status, claiming third-team honors as a sophomore.

The midfielder was one of three Lord Jeffs to gain Regional All-America recognition behind her defensive intensity and offensive-mindedness to generate four goals and four assists. Permut also gained First Team All-League honors from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), and was named to the NFHCA and NESCAC All-Academic Squad.

The junior is joined on the All-Academic teams by fellow scholar-athletes Heather Kestner (Wilmington, DE) and Tyra Gettleman (Orono, ME). Kestner tallied four goals and three assists to round out her senior season, while Gettleman scored eight goals in the first five games of the season before adding four assists to her sophomore year totals.

Amherst field hockey jumped out to its best start ever in the 23-year history of the varsity program after an NCAA appearance in 1996. The Jeffs outscored opponents 25-2 in its first seven games before dropping a match as the team set a season scoring record with 38 goals in 15 games. Amherst concluded the 1997 season with a 10-5 mark in its third straight post-season appearance. Graduating two seniors, the Jeffs return nine starters for 1998, including their keeper and top five scorers.